Monday, March 25, 1996

Larry Bensky leads discussion on campaign finance reform measures in California with Ruth Holton and Doug Phelps in Pacifica’s Berkeley studios. The two campaign reform activists debate just how far campaign finance reform should go. Holton and her group pushed the California Political Reform Act onto the ballot, which severely restricts soft and hard money contributions to candidates and PACs. Phelps proposes a bill that regulates spending, as well as contributions.

Three environmentalists who took part in a conference on dioxin (a by-product of industrial processes using chlorine) discuss the need for greater oversight regarding industrial pollution. The electronics industry is a primary producer of dioxin and other toxic chlorine by-products. The Chevron corporation’s oil and pesticide processing plants are the focus of Henry Clark’s campaign. He sees the location of polluting plants near poor minority neighborhoods as "environmental racism." They discuss the impact of toxics in their regions of California and how this impacts breast cancer rates, reproductive health, birth defects and even mental health issues. Environmental racism is discussed and the coalition that is forming among environmental groups like Greenpeace and activist groups connected with ethnic minorities and poor communities.

Stories

In a Democracy Now! special, we look at the acclaimed Broadway musical "Fun Home," which swept the Tony Awards last month. Composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist Lisa Kron made history as the first female duo to win a Tony Award for Best Original Score. "Fun Home" is also the first-ever Broadway musical to feature a lesbian protagonist. The musical is based on the 2006 best-selling graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic." The memoir is a poignant exploration of family, memory, first love,...

A stunning indictment has been handed down in Cincinnati, focusing attention again on police killings of people of color. This is a start for accountability and justice. Cleveland should pay attention. As the thousand people gathered there last weekend said clearly, “Black Lives Matter.”

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